The current two-week international break has taken the focus off the Premier League, but there will be up to 12 managers all looking ahead to next weekend when a return to hostilities will spark the eight-game run-in to what is the tightest relegation battle in the history of the league.

Trying to pick three teams who will be occupying those relegation places when the final whistle of the campaign blows on Sunday May 22 is arguably an impossible task, but one I will endeavour to try and do.

Stoke City look comfortable in mid-table but are only five points clear of the drop zone, while Newcastle and Fulham are just below them, one and two points worse off respectively.

However, I don’t envisage any of that trio to drop into the mix, while Aston Villa, who are one of four sides on 33 points and just one point clear of the bottom three, should also be safe.

Gerard Houllier’s men have been hit by talk of dressing room unrest, bust-ups between players and coaching staff, and they lost 1-0 to Wolves last time out, making it just one win in their last six league games.

But I find it difficult to believe that a team dotted with several regular England internationals cannot secure sufficient points in their final eight games, which include home dates against Stoke and Wigan.

This leaves Blackburn, Blackpool and West Brom, who are also on 33 points with Villa. Add to this West Ham and Wolves, who are both on 32 points, Birmingham on 31 and bottom side Wigan on 30.

The three to go are:

WIGAN (4/11 Relegation)

Roberto Martinez’s side boosted their chances of survival with a 2-1 win against Birmingham last time out.

However, this was only their second win in 12 league games, while they also have a significantly worse goal difference than all of their rivals which effectively makes them another point worse off.

BLACKPOOL (13/10 Relegation)

Ian Holloway’s side has been like a breath of fresh air in the Premier League and they looked all set to spend at least a second season in the top-flight after a barnstorming start.

But the wheels have come off since Christmas, with two wins in 13 outings in 2011, and their all-out attacking style is now being used against them as opposition sides hit them on the counter-attack.

They still have to play Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United, but do have winnable home dates against Wigan, Newcastle and Stoke.

But I feel the Tangerines will fall just short of salvation.

BIRMINGHAM (6/4 Relegation)

Picking the team to finish in the third and final relegation spot was extremely difficult given that West Ham and West Brom has some very tough prospects in their final eight games, while Blackburn are on a slippery slope with one win in eight which has already raised question marks about Steve Kean’s tenure at Ewood Park.

Wolves, who are one of the in-form teams with eight points from four games, have lost influential striker Kevin Doyle to a knee injury and this could hamper their survival bid.

However, those sides should just have enough to scramble home which leaves Alex McLeish’s Carling Cup winners facing the prospect of playing in the Europa League as a Championship outfit.

The Cup win against Arsenal could turn out to be a killer for the Blues as they have had a hangover ever since, with just one point from a possible 12 picked up, not to mention a myriad of first-team stars sat in the treatment room.

That has left McLeish relying on the same group of players in their recent hectic fixture schedule and it has clearly caught up with them.

First-team coach Peter Grant feels the break has come at the perfect time to get some players back but I feel they are stuck in a rut now and defeats to the likes of West Brom and Wigan in recent games will be what the fans look back on as significant in their demise if they do go down.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.